An opportunity has arisen for a Paralegal to join the Corporate Legal Affairs Department at News International Limited. We are looking for an individual to take responsibility for providing administrative and legal support to ensure that News International’s intellectual property rights including trade marks, copyright and domain names are secured and enforced as well as undertaking some commercial legal work.

The ideal candidate will have trade marks formalities/renewals experience, gained from within either a law firm or the in-house Trade Mark/Legal Department of a company and have a strong understanding of intellectual property law relating to trade marks, copyright and domain names. It is also desirable to have experience of drafting and negotiating commercial contracts including for example licensing agreements and confidentiality agreements. Experience of digital business related contracts is an advantage.

The key tasks are as follows:

TRADE MARKS and DESIGNS

• Assist with brand portfolio management for News International’s infrastructure: approximately 600 registrations and 60 pending applications Worldwide and a significant number of oppositions.
• Instruct and liaise with over 40 foreign attorneys and Agents regarding registration of marks around the world, including those territories covered by the multi-jurisdictional “International” registration system.
• Liaise directly with the UK IPO and OHIM regarding the registration of United Kingdom and Community Trade Marks.
• Draft/prepare responses in respect of official objections to trade mark and design applications.
• Draft and/or assist with drafting of notices of oppositions.
• Compile/collate supporting evidence for trade mark applications and oppositions, and request hearing dates.
• Draft/prepare correspondence in connection with the transfer of registered trade marks by assignment, and prepare assignment documents.
• Shared responsibility for the administration and maintenance of the extensive in-house trade mark database, PATTSY (Patent and Trademark Tracking System), including record creation, data input, database searches and generating reports.
• Case management and general office administration.
• Conducting trade mark searches; reporting results.

INFRINGEMENT

• Assist with the enforcement of News International’s intellectual property rights including drafting cease and desist/take down letters and follow-up correspondence.
• Maintain database records, including creating and updating records, and generating reports.
• Compile/collate evidence and documents in support/defence of actions.

COMMERCIAL

Negotiating and drafting commercial agreements including procurement of content and technology services and licensing content to third parties as well as confidentiality agreements and other general commercial contracts.

Skills/experience required
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt existing skills and acquire new skills.
• A pro-active self starter with a can do attitude.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and to prioritise work accordingly.
• A desire to increase and develop your knowledge and experience of intellectual property legal issues and commercial contracts.
• Good team player.

Salary
TBC – depending on experience

Benefits include
Contributory pension scheme, health insurance, potential bonuses.

Contact information:
Interested candidates should apply in writing by cv and covering letter to:
Corporate Legal Affairs Department (ref Paralegal)
News International Limited
1 Virginia Street
London
E98 1EX

Closing date 30th March 2010

(posted 05-03-10)

Ipulse is a young and dynamic patent and trade mark attorney firm based in London and Cambridge.  The qualities that set us apart from our competitors are attitude and execution:  we pride ourselves on thinking differently and acting differently.  We think commercially. We hire smart people. We’re proactive. We act quickly. We keep costs down. We utilize state-of-the-art systems which allow us to offer a fast and efficient service and keep our overheads low.

Our office has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, but we aim to be the best at what we do, and have world class attorneys handling high end trade mark and patent work.

We are looking to recruit for two trade mark positions in our new and expanding Cambridge office.

Trainee Trade Mark Attorney

The ideal candidate would be a recent graduate or a trainee with up to one year’s experience in the profession, and would be able to start at the end of the summer. The successful candidate will be well remunerated and supported to develop their career as a trade mark attorney.

Paralegal/Trade Mark Support

The ideal candidate would have extensive secretarial/administrative experience in the field of trade marks, and would initially join our team to provide a range of support services, with a view to taking on a paralegal role.

If you are interested in either of these positions and believe you would fit in with our team, our ambition and our philosophy, please send your CV and covering letter to Emma Pettipher, emma@ipulse.biz.

(posted 03-03-10)

Hammonds is a leading international commercial law firm which has an international team employing over 1100 people, including more than 180 partners, working out of 11 offices across 6 countries.

We are looking to recruit a Trade Mark Administrator and this challenging role supports the Director of Trade Marks and two Trade Mark Assistants within the UK Trade Marks team and involves dealing with national, international and community trade mark applications and UK and Community designs in addition to providing a full administrative service to the team in conjunction with an existing Trade Mark Administrator.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced trade mark administrator who has an understanding of German:

Secretarial Responsibilities

• To provide a full secretarial support to the specified fee-earners ensuring that work is prioritised and dealt with as appropriate. 
• To ensure the effective and proactive management of the fee-earners' diaries so that meeting rooms, travel arrangements and lunches are booked as necessary and that the fee-earners and clients are notified of arrangements accordingly.
• To deal with incoming client calls ensuring that the fee-earners are aware of all messages and that the client is left with a positive and professional image of the firm.
• To store all documents (manual and computerised) in such a way that other members of the team can access them at all times.
• To ensure that billing is up to date and liaise with the fee-earners when this is not the case.
• Time Entry. Recording time via Carpe Diem, time recording system as and when appropriate.

Trademark/Administration Responsibilities

• Entering new trademark and design applications and other relevant data into the trade mark database, PATORG (training will be provided)
• Liaising with the team in relation to deadlines and diary reminders
• Assisting in trade mark and design renewals as well as the preparation and filing of trade mark and design application and related forms
• Maintaining IPO and OHIM deposit accounts and assisting with the billing process.
• Completing forms and fee sheets for UK trade marks, Community trade marks, WIPO trade marks and UK and Community designs
• Ad hoc project work as and when required
• Producing status reports for clients on an ad hoc basis

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your CV together with a brief covering letter or email stating your interest in the position to Lizzy Peter, HR Assistant at elizabeth.peters@hammonds.com or at the address below

Hammonds LLP
7 Devonshire Square
London
EC2M 4YH

For more information on Hammonds LLP, please visit our website at www.hammonds.com.

(posted 03-03-10)

Based in London but hearings may take place in other locations including Scotland
£700 per day
Reference: 00470

The Judicial Appointments Commission is inviting applications for a high profile post in patent, trademark and copyright.

This is a specialist fee paid post, hearing cases concerning the terms and conditions of copyright licences, sitting for up to 25 days per year.

Hearings normally take place in London but may take place in other locations including Scotland.

Applications from ITMA and CIPA members are also welcome.

For more information, including the full eligibility criteria, please visit our website www.judicialappointments.gov.uk or telephone 020 3334 0123.

The closing date for applications is noon on 25 March 2010.

The JAC is an independent body set up to select candidates for judicial office on merit through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible candidates.

(posted 02-03-10)

Based in London but may require sitting elsewhere
£138,548
Reference: 00471

The Judicial Appointments Commission is inviting applications for a high profile post in patent, trademark and copyright.

This post presides over specialist cases in the fields of patent, trademark and other intellectual property and involves the full duties of a circuit judge.

Part-time working is available.

For more information, including the full eligibility criteria, please visit our website www.judicialappointments.gov.uk or telephone 020 3334 0123.

The closing date for applications is noon on 25 March 2010.

The JAC is an independent body set up to select candidates for judicial office on merit through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible candidates.

(posted 02-03-10)

Lewis Silkin LLP is a well respected and progressive law firm which prides itself on being a 'rather more human law firm' with a strong emphasis on quality of life.

Due to recent client wins there is now a vacancy for a further trade mark attorney within the trade mark practice of the Media, Brands and Technology Department. 

The expertise of the MBT Department is recognised in the legal directories in a number of fields including trade marks, IP litigation, advertising, publishing, defamation, sports and computer games. 

We represent clients across a wide spectrum of industries including retail, fashion, automotive, publishing, advertising, media, entertainment and telecommunications.

The trade mark practice offers a full service from search, application and prosecution to litigation and transactional advice and manages the worldwide portfolios for a number of high profile clients. 

We are looking for a good 'team player', with excellent interpersonal and IT skills who would enjoy a varied workload.  The role will be client facing and will require participation in business development activities.

Whilst we are looking for experience up to 5 years PQE, a more senior appointment would be considered should there be sufficient following.

Potential candidates will need:

• to be educated to at least degree level, preferably with a background in law or modern languages and have completed the ITMA professional exams;
• to have solid experience in dealing with trade mark searching, filing in prosecution, portfolio management, due diligence and disputes;
• to be prepared to work in other areas of IP;
• to be commercially focussed and have a problem solving approach;
• to be computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Applications;
• experience of online searching using Marquesa or Saegis and the IPPO management software would be an advantage.

The firm provides a full range of benefits.  Salary will be dependent upon experience and qualifications.

Potential applicants should in the first instance, send their C.V.'s to recruit@lewissilkin.com or write to Nipa Patel, HR Officer, 5 Chancery Lane, Clifford’s Inn, London, EC4A 1BL.

(posted 17-02-10)

Envoy International Limited provides global IP renewal services for IP firms throughout the world.

The Senior Renewals Manager is an important appointment offering excellent career prospects and remuneration.

We are looking for an energetic Senior Renewals Manager to join our fast growing team in Scotland.

We work with the IP profession to provide a time and cost-saving solution for the pricing and payment of patent and trade mark renewals around the world.
By combining excellent service with innovative technology we have quickly become the first choice provider for several prominent IP firms throughout the UK and abroad.

For more information visit our website at: www.envoyrenewals.com

The successful candidate ideally will have:

• Considerable experience in formalities and/or renewals management;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Good communication skills for liaising with practitioners in private practice;
• Team leadership capability; and
• Technical aptitude for using and explaining on-line systems.

To enquire or apply in confidence, please email our HR Manager, Kim Magee at: k.magee@envoyrenewals.com

(posted 12-02-10)

Central London
12 Month contact

IBML is the in-house legal department for Sports Direct International plc, the biggest sports retailer in the UK. IBML manages the global trade mark portfolios of all the group's brands, including such well-known sports and fashion brands as Slazenger, Lonsdale, Dunlop, Everlast, Donnay, Kangol and Karrimor.

Following the recent introduction of a new trade mark portfolio management database (Patricia), we are now looking to recruit a trade mark formalities assistant to join our existing team based off Oxford Street in Central London.  The role will primarily entail updating our trade mark records on the Patricia database, compiling and organising evidence in trade mark disputes, running reports and diary reminders, dealing with incoming post from agents and uploading post into the database, assisting with audits and searches and other ad hoc formalities projects, filing of and managing trade mark registration certificates and agents' invoices.  The candidate will work under our trade mark managers and report ultimately to the Head of Legal.

Superior IT and organisational skills will be required in order to succeed in this position, and prior experience in updating trade mark records will be favourably considered.  Training on the Patricia software will be provided as required.  In addition, excellent communication skills will be required as you will be dealing on a daily basis with other members of the legal team and the business, as well as our foreign agents. 

In return for your meticulous attention to detail, the ability to work independently and to prioritise tasks within a challenging workload, we can provide a professional yet informal and supportive open-plan working environment and a competitive remuneration package.  We also have cakes on Wednesdays.

Please send your CV and covering letter outlining why you want to  join us to Jane John-Charles (PA to the Legal Department) at jjohn-charles@ibml.co.uk by 19 February 2010.

(posted 03-02-10)